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Immigration to Italy and Return Policies: a Provocation, a Wishful Thinking Or an Opportunity?1

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Immigration to Italy and Return Policies: a Provocation, a Wishful Thinking Or an Opportunity?1 DAG 53 001-108:DAG 24/3/09 19:27 Página 11 Doc. Anàl. Geogr. 53, 2009 11-28 Immigration to Italy and return policies: a provocation, a wishful thinking or an opportunity?1 Maria Luisa Gentileschi Università degli Studi di Cagliari. Facoltà di Scienze Politiche Dipartimento di Richerche Economiche e Sociali Ordinario di Geografia Politica ed Economia [email protected] Data de recepció: gener del 2008 Data d’acceptació definitiva: setembre del 2008 Abstract In Italy, the return of immigrants to their country of origin is practically absent in the media and in the debate among the operators or the general public. In the countries of arrival, immigrant labour, at first, alleviates pressure on the local labour market with a ben- eficial effect, but in time might also cause competition with local labour, impede renova- tion of production and keep the situation stationary. On the other hand, in the countries of origin, several authors have underlined the damage of massive population emigration of the young and skilled workforce and explored ways to encourage emigrants to come back with the intention of taking part in the development process. The present paper invites discussion on the subject of returning migrants, a phenom- enon which is now being addressed by ongoing legislation. The policies that will accom- pany the return and reinsertion of immigrants in their native societies should connect the phase of arrival to that of return, promoting a comprehensive project based on the possi- bility of returns, multiple family permits, rotation of permits among family members, and enterprise planning. Key words: Italy, return policies, assisted returns, return actions, co-development. Resum. Immigració a Itàlia i polítiques de retorn: una provocació, un desig o una oportunitat? A Itàlia, el retorn dels immigrants als seus països d’origen és un tema pràcticament absent en els mitjans de comunicació i en el debat entre els agents o el públic en general. En els països d’arribada, el treball dels immigrants alleugera, en un primer moment, la pressió sobre el mercat de treball local amb un efecte beneficiós, però, a còpia de temps, pot com- petir amb el treball local, impedir la renovació de la producció i mantenir la situació estan- cada. Tanmateix, en els països d’origen, diversos autors han alertat del perjudici de l’emi- gració massiva de població jove i preparada i han reivindicat la necessitat d’explorar maneres d’encoratjar els immigrants a tornar a casa amb la intenció de prendre part en el procés de desenvolupament del seu país. L’article invita a discutir sobre el tema del retorn dels immigrants, un fenomen trac- tat actualment per la legislació vigent. Les polítiques sobre el retorn i la reinserció dels immigrants a les seves societats nadiues hauria de connectar la fase d’arribada amb la de 1. Correcció de l’anglès feta per Gerda Priestley. DAG 53 001-108:DAG 24/3/09 19:27 Página 12 12 Doc. Anàl. Geogr. 53, 2009 Maria Luisa Gentileschi tornada, promoure un projecte integrador basat en la possibilitat dels retorns, de permi- sos de família múltiple, de rotació de permisos entre els membres de la família i de la pla- nificació d’empreses. Paraules clau: Itàlia, polítiques de retorn, retorn assistit, accions de retorn, codesenvolu- pament. Resumen. Inmigración en Italia y políticas de retorno: ¿una provocación, un deseo o una oportunidad? En Italia, el retorno de los inmigrantes a sus países de origen es un tema prácticamente ausente en los medios de comunicación y en el debate entre los agentes o el público en general. En los países de llegada, el trabajo de los inmigrantes aligera, en un primer momen- to, la presión sobre el mercado de trabajo local con un efecto beneficioso, pero, con el tiempo, puede competir con el trabajo local, impedir la renovación de la producción y mantener la situación estancada. Además, en los países de origen, diversos autores han aler- tado del perjuicio de la emigración masiva de población joven y preparada y han reivindi- cado la necesidad de explorar formas para animar a los inmigrantes a volver a casa con la intención de tomar parte en el proceso de desarrollo. El artículo invita a discutir sobre el tema del retorno de los inmigrantes, un fenómeno tratado actualmente por la legislación vigente. Las políticas sobre el retorno y la reinser- ción de los inmigrantes en sus sociedades nativas tendrían que conectar la fase de llegada con la de su vuelta a casa, promover un proyecto integrador basado en la posibilidad de los retornos, de permisos de familia múltiple, rotación de permisos entre los miembros de la familia y planificación de empresas. Palabras clave: Italia, políticas de retorno, retorno asistido, acciones de retorno, codesa- rrollo. Résumé. Immigration en Italie et politiques de retour: une provocation, un désir ou une opportunité? En Italie, le retour des immigrants aux pays d’origine c’est presque oublié dans les médias et dans le débat entre les acteurs sociaux ou le public en général. Dans les pays d’arrivée, le travail des immigrants soulage positivement, au premier moment, la pression sur le mar- ché de travail local, mais au cours du temps il peut entrer en compétence avec le travail local, éviter la rénovation de la production et maintenir étanchée la situation. En plus, dans les pays d’origine, des auteurs ont remarqué des aspects négatifs de l’émigration mas- sive de population jeune et préparée et ils ont revendiqué le besoin d’explorer d’autres formes d’animer aux immigrants à retourner chez eux avec le but de prendre partie dans le processus de développement. L’article invite à la discussion autour du thème du retour des immigrants, un phéno- mène qui est en cours de débat dans la législation actuelle. Les politiques sur le retour et la réinsertion des immigrants dans ses sociétés natives devraient connecter l’arrivée avec le retour, promouvoir un projet d’intégration basé sur la possibilité du retour, des permis de famille multiple, rotation des permis entre les membres de la famille et la planification des entreprises. Mots clé: Italie, politiques de retour, retour assisté, actions de retour, co-développement. DAG 53 001-108:DAG 24/3/09 19:27 Página 13 Immigration to Italy and return policies Doc. Anàl. Geogr. 53, 2009 13 Summary Foreword: the actuality of return policies Accompanying policies for a sustainable Evaluating the size of return flows return Problems in the arrival areas A geographical note Problems in the areas of origin Bibliography A Rumanian shepherd said to a Sardinian journalist: «I learned how to milk, how to raise a flock. Now I know this trade, how to be a shepherd. I shall have my own flock, down there in Rumania, maybe in a few months, I hope». (Ghirra, 2005) Foreword: the actuality of return policies The return of immigrants to their country of origin has always been part of any migration project, even if it does not always come true. While departures may be a mass movement, returns —at least voluntary ones— are always indi- vidual. Today’s massive arrivals in the EU will certainly leave behind impor- tant mixed blood offspring and changed populations. But returns have not disappeared from today’s international mobility, and globalization certainly does not work one way only. Most returns are natural, and will follow depar- tures according to a varying succession of events and situations, often com- pleting a preconceived plan on the part of the emigrant and his/her family. A return project might give sense to a lifetime of work abroad, or, in the case of young returnees, start another project of life and work. Even though there is general indifference to this topic, nevertheless the problems and policies related with return should be examined more closely: will the immigrants now entering Italy go back to their countries of origin, and when? How quickly will they return? Will only a few of them return, or a large proportion, as was the case with the great migration from Italy between the 19th and the 20th century? Some years ago a well known book on inter- national migration to Europe (Here for good, Castles, 1984), predicted a sta- bilization of immigration with very few returns, if any. This is quite a com- plicated question, which is also tinted by the feeling that it is «politically incorrect» to speak of or to plan the return of immigrants2. It is true that in Italy the topic of return is rarely found in newspapers, legal texts, or scientific and general debates. Until very recently little was 2. Nevertheless, experiments do take place nowadays: the Commune of Rome is now start- ing a program of voluntary return involving three Rumanian communes and some Italian firms now present in Rumania, with the aim of reducing immigration to Italy from this country and of facilitating the return home of Rumanian citizens now living in the capital (Migranti. press, n. 26, 2007). DAG 53 001-108:DAG 24/3/09 19:27 Página 14 14 Doc. Anàl. Geogr. 53, 2009 Maria Luisa Gentileschi published on the problems of return projects or aid for returns. As a response to the stimulus from European discussion about immigrants’ acceptance and immigration regulations, a significant report is worthy of mention: Return migration: the Italian case (IDOS, 2006). A contribution to the third pilot study, entitled Return Migration in the EU Member States, it recon- siders the topic of return, and, with the aim of finding a productive con- nection between immigration and return policies, it examines two different moments in the migration process. The new attitude towards population movements must include the return home as a planned conclusion of migra- tion, either as a prologue to further migrations or as a part of resettling in the country of origin.
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